Drive-By Claims Life of “Straight-A” Teen Who Dreamed of Being a Forensic Scientist

Shaquise Buckner was shot, killed early Saturday while standing outside on the 7200 block of South Laflin Street

Among the seven people shot and killed over the last weekend was a 16-year-old girl described by family members as a straight-A student who dreamed of becoming a forensic scientist.

"She was a good baby," said Shaquise Buckner's mother, Katrina Goodwin. "I don't understand this."

Buckner was standing outside on the 7200 block of South Laflin Street, in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, at about 12:45 a.m. Saturday when shots were fired from a passing car. Buckner took a bullet to the head. A 20-year-old man with her was hit in the back and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition.

Buckner was killed just days ahead of the start of her sophomore year of high school. She was on her way to also becoming the first member of her family to attend college.

"She was a good student, strong amongst her peers, outgoing, and she was on her way to AP classes to help her be successful," Julie Puzon, the principal at Perspectives IIT/Math & Science Academy, said Sunday night at a vigil outside the school.

No one was in custody in connection with the shooting as of early Monday. Police said the man wounded with Buckner may have gang affiliations and may have been the intended target.

Weekend shootings killed seven other people and wounded more than 25 others.

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